Illuminated card holder



Aug. 10, 1937. J. BUHR ILLUMINATED CARD HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1937 led 60 2:

I By @620;

A iim'neus Aug. 10, 1937. L. J. BUHR ILLUMINATED CARD HOLDER Filed Jan. 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A iiomeys P w -7 4 fa Wk m F I v O 5 w mmu m j w Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to illuminated card hold ers of a type generally similar to that constituting the subject matter of my U. S. Patent Number 1,943,719, upon which the present device constitutes an improvement.

An important object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a holder of the aforementioned character embodying a removable indicia bearing card,

together with novel means for securing said card in position against unauthorized removal.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an illuminated card holder of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and. advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, showing an improved illuminated card holder embodying the present invention mounted in position in the lower left hand corner portion of an automobile windshield.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the invention.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section through the invention, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view.

Figure 5 is a view in front elevation and partially in vertical section, the card and the container therefor being omitted.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a. casing I of suitable metal, said casing being open at its front and further being substantially of the shape shown to advantage in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Mounted vertically in the lower portion of the casing I is a socket 2 for the reception of an incandescent lamp 3. The reference numeral 4 designates a reflector in the casing I. Brackets 5 project from one side and the lower end of the casing I for firmly securing said casing in position in the lower left hand corner portion of the windshield 6 of an automobile I. Of course the device is mounted in back of the windshield 8.

A transverse opening or slot 8 is provided in the upper portion of the casing I and aligned with said slot in the open front portion of said casing I are substantially channel shaped metallic guides 9. The guides 9 are open at their upper ends for the reception of a removable container in the form of a transparent envelope I0 which is open at its upper end. The reference numeral II designates a transparent or translucent card in the envelope I0 which, as best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, may have printed thereon any desired indicia, as at I2. Projecting from the open upper end of the envelope II) and integral with said envelope is a tab I3 which is adapted to extend through the slot 8 in the casing I. A bar I4 extends transversely across the open front of the casing I at the top thereof and constitutes the forward wall of the slot 8. Mounted on the bar I4 and on the' outer flanges of the substantially channel shaped guides 9 is a pad I5 of suitable material, such as felt.

Mounted in the upper portion of the container I is a lock I6 which is operable by a key II, a hole I8 being provided in the casing for said key. Fixed on the bolt I9 of the lock I6 is a closure plate 28 for the slot I8. The closure plate 20 has formed therein a notch or recess 2I which accommodates the tab I3.

It is thought that the operation of the improved device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. With the card II placed therein, the envelope I0 is inserted in the substantially channel shaped guides 9 through the slot 8 in the top of the casing I. The lock I9 is then actuated through the medium of the key I! for shifting the closure 28 to operative position relative to the slot 8, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of the card, the notch or recess 2I accommodating the tab I3. When the incandescent lamp 3 is energized the indicia I2 on the transparent or translucent card II will be illuminated through the transparent envelope I0. Of course, the open front of the device is held against the glass of the windshield of the vehicle by the attaching brackets 5. When it is desired to remove the card the lock I6 is actuated in a manner to retract the closure plate 20 thereby permitting the envelope ID, with the card therein, to be withdrawn through the slot 8 through the medium of the tab I3.

It is believed that the many advantages of an illuminated card holder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described,

it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.-

in combination, a casing open at its front and having a slot in its front portion, substantially channel shaped guides mounted in the front portion of the casing and aligned with the slot, a transparent envelope, for the reception of a card, insertable in the guides through the slots, said envelope including a tab adapted to project through the slot when the envelope is in position in the guides, a key operated lock mounted in the casing and including a bolt, a plate fixed on said bolt and adapted to close the slot, said plate having a recess therein accommodating the tab, and a lamp mounted in the casing for illuminating the card.

LEO J. BUHR. 

